Return to Space
Netflix | Release Date (Streaming): April 7, 2022 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
56
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews
Positive:
4
Mixed:
3
Negative:
0
Watch Now
Stream On

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
79
Paste MagazineAurora AmidonApr 18, 2022
While space travel has always required idols, Return to Space would benefit from a more nuanced portrayal of the controversial figure accused of hoarding money and upsetting the stock markets with his tweets—even if said figure might eventually put us all on Mars. Read full review
75
RogerEbert.comMatt FagerholmApr 7, 2022
Chin and Vasarhelyi make a solid case for why space exploration should continue, and the benefits we could reap from it, provided it doesn’t keep our heads perpetually lost in the clouds. Read full review
70
Wall Street JournalJoe MorgensternApr 7, 2022
It’s a return to dramatic accounts of blastoffs, followed by soul-filling footage from beyond our sheltering atmosphere and implacable gravity; a portrait, by reflected light from fiery boosters, of one of Earth’s most curious (in every respect) overachievers; and a testament to failing upward—far, far upward. Read full review
70
Los Angeles TimesRobert AbeleApr 7, 2022
The film is a relatively smooth blend of optimism for a rejuvenated emphasis on human exploration in the beyond, and branded content promoting a controversial businessman. Read full review
58
The PlaylistChristian GallichioApr 8, 2022
Return to Space is a bit too neatly packaged and overly idealistic about what SpaceX might mean for space travel. By turning their focus up to the stars, the filmmakers, unfortunately, ignore the myriad issues that private space travel creates on earth. Read full review
42
IndieWireDavid EhrlichApr 7, 2022
The film’s scattershot focus — in stark contrast to the breathless immediacy of “The Rescue” — and advertorial tone diminish the sheer thrill of watching the company land an orbital class rocket for the first time. Read full review
40
The New York TimesJeannette CatsoulisApr 7, 2022
Glowing with grandiose pronouncements and uplifting sentiment, Return to Space, a draggy documentary about America’s first manned spaceflight since 2011, could be easily repurposed as promotional material for Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Read full review
More From This Movie

56 Critic Reviews

5.4 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 81 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
2 77 Project Hail Mary
3 75 Send Help
4 73 Hoppers
5 72 The Sheep Detectives
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL